Valve-adjusting means



R. M. GETCHELL.

VALVE ADJUSTING MEANS Feb. 26 1924.

Filed Dec. 15, 1921 Patented Feb. 2%, i22

' ROBERT GETGHELL, or DAYTDN, onro;

VALVE-ADJUSTING iuisnns.

Applicationfild December 1 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. GETGHELL. a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Adjusting Means, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines and 'isparticularly adapted for use in connection with multiple valves having a common actuating element.

According to this invention means are provided for actuating a plurality of valves in such 'manner as to permit independent adjustment to suit the requirements of each valve. Furthermore the invention aims to provide an operating mechanism in which certain parts have a sliding motion in such relation as to eliminate play and still prevent binding action between them.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is illustrated in connection with two exhaust valves but it may, with equal facility, be applied to a larger number of exhaust or inlet valves.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a valve operating mechanism having my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the valve operating unit;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a yoke adapt i ed to be applied to the rocker arms of a plurality of exhaust valves;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the yoke;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the yoke showing the curvature of the sides thereof.

The numeral 10 designates a standard se cured to the top of a cylinder 11 of an internal combustion engine. The standard 10 is formed into a yoke at its upper end and in the arms 12 of this yoke a shaft 13 is mounted and secured against rotation. A pair of exhaust valve rocker arms 14 and a single inlet valve rocker arm 15 are pivot ally mounted on the shaft 13. The: inlet valve rocker arm is interposed between the rocker arms 14% and the latter are bent toward each other at their rear ends so that the two exhaust valves may be operated 5, 1921. Serial 1%. 522,800.

by a single push rod, as will hereinafter appear.

largement '17 which is bored and threaded for receiving 'adjustingbolt 18. A nut 19 locks the bolt in adjusted position. The belt is provided with a globular end 20 adapted to cooperate with a spherical recess 21 formed in'the rocker arm 15. The push rod 22 for the exhaust rocker arms is slightly different from the push rod 16 in that a globular end 23 is formed directly on the rodand this globular end is adapted to cooperate with aspherical seat'24: formed in a yoke member 25.

The exhaust valve rocker arms 14 have their rear ends slidably mounted in slots 26 formed in. the yoke member. Spaced lugs 27 project from opposite sides of the rocker arms 1 1 and serve as guides for the yoke member by engaging opposite sides thereof and thus prevent radial movement of the yoke-member along the rocker arms. Adjusting screws 28 are threaded through suitable apertures 29 formed in the yoke memher so as to project into the slots 26. It will be noted that the adjustment is on the push rod ends of the rocker arms which leaves the otherends free to be shaped for the best wearing contact with the valve stems 30. As shown on the drawing the free ends of the rocker arms are curved so as to have a rocking motion on the top of the valve stems. The adjusting screws are shown on the under side of the rocker arms as this construction does not efiect the over-all height of the cylinder and valve operating mechanism. A nut 81 engages each of the screws 28 for locking the latter in adjusted position.

The inner faces of the lugs or guides 27 are curved so as to present arcuate surfaces having their centers located on the longitudinal axis of the rocker arm. The sides of the yoke member 25 bearing on said guides or lugs are also curved with radii l3; and 1 extending from the longitudinal axis of shaft 13. This feature is very important, for if these engaging faces were not so curved, the exhaust valve rocker arms would bind when the adjusting screws 28 are unevenly advanced to allow for unequal lengths of the two valve stems or other discrepancies. The valve springs 32 normally hold the rocker arms 14 against the projecting ends of the adjusting screws 28.

In operation the adjusting screws 28 are independently adjusted until the correct clearance and functioning of each exhaust valve is obtained. The push rod 22 being moved upwardly will impart a corresponding movement to the yoke member 25 which through adjusting screws 28 will operate the exhaust valve rocker arms through different arcs or to the same extent depending upon the adjustment of the screws.

I claim:

1. In a valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a plurality of synchronously operated rocker arms having spaced guides formed near one end thereof, of a yoke member having slots for engaging said arms between the guides and a spherical seat formed therein, said slots being open at one side of the yoke member, so as the rocker arms are positively moved by the yoke member in one direction only, and a push rod having a globular end adapted to engage said seat.

2. In a valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a push rod, of a yoke member mounted thereon, a plurality of rocker arms having spaced guides provided with arcuate faces, said yoke member having curved surfaces engaging said arcuate faces of the guides, and adjustable stops carried by said yoke member for engagement with the rocker arms, said stops being individually adjustable for individually adjusting the position of the arms inrespect to. the yoke member.

13. In a valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with a plurality of synchronously operated rocker arms, of a yoke member-interconnecting said rocker arms, means for independently adjusting said rocker arms with relation to said member, said rocker arms and yoke member being provided with coacting curved surfaces having their centers locatedin the fulcrum axis of said rocker arms, and a push rod for actuating said yoke.

4:. In a valve operating mechanism vfor the synchronous operation of a plurality of valves of an internal combustion engine, the combination with two pivotally mounted rocker arms adapted to directly engage two valve stems, of a push rod, a yoke'member operated thereby, two open parallel slots in said yoke member within which the ends of the rocker arms are slidably mounted, and adjusting screws in said yoke member, one for each slot, for individually adjusting the position of the ends of the arms in the slots, said rocker arms and yoke member being provided with coacting curved surfaces having their centers located in the fulcrum axis of said rocker arms. 7

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

ROBERT M. GETCHELL. 

